"Didn't he help you?"
"You know how he is. He's always like this."
Watching her be bullied by his mother, he never said a word.
"Jerk." Shen Yue gritted her teeth. "Xiao Xiao, divorce him. I'll support you."
Jiang Xiao smiled through tears. "Okay, you support me."
Shen Yue knew she couldn't bear to leave. Though she disapproved, she had to endure. "I'll pick you up."
"No need. The driver is coming." Just then, the driver pushed the door open, and Jiang Xiao walked out.
Shen Yue reminded her, "Tell me if anything happens."
Jiang Xiao: "Mm, I will."
*
As soon as she got into the car, Jiang Xiao felt one thing: cold.
Before she could even say a word, a man pressed her against the car door.
Cheng Yuan was strong; he never controlled his strength when pinching her waist. His dark eyes held undisguised disgust, and his voice sounded as if it came from hell.
"Did you complain to Grandfather?" His jaw was tight, looking like he wanted to kill. "Jiang Xiao, you've got guts."
Jiang Xiao hadn't complained. Her brows were furrowed, and her expression was pained. "I didn't."
"You didn't?" Cheng Yuan leaned closer. "If you didn't, how did Grandfather know you were in the hospital?"
"Grandfather called me back to the old house for dinner. I had to tell him." Jiang Xiao explained. "It's not what you call complaining."
"Do you think I'll believe you just because you say so?" Cheng Yuan pinched her hard again through her clothes, his voice grim. "I told you, don't pull any tricks, or I won't let you off."
It hurt so much that Jiang Xiao groaned. "Let go of me first. Let's talk properly."
"My waist—it's going to break."
Cheng Yuan looked at her, then after a moment, withdrew his hand. "You'd better give me a reasonable explanation."
Jiang Xiao sat up, pressing her hand on the side of her waist and rubbing gently. She had been afraid of pain since childhood and always cried when it hurt. It was a habit of many years, and this time was no exception.
Her eyes were filled with tears, and her eye sockets were red, making her look pitiful.
Any other man would probably have felt sorry for her, but not Cheng Yuan.
He looked away in disgust, took out a cigarette and lighter, turned his head to light it, and began to smoke slowly.
The thin smoke made it hard to read his expression, but Jiang Xiao knew he was very angry.
At this moment, she needed to appease him; otherwise, their relationship would only get worse.
She tugged at Cheng Yuan's clothes, lowering her posture, and called out, "A Yuan."
Cheng Yuan didn't respond.
Jiang Xiao: "Husband."
Cheng Yuan still didn't respond.
Jiang Xiao: "I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Cheng Yuan half-turned his head, slightly opened his mouth, and let the smoke drift out, all of it blowing onto Jiang Xiao's face.
Jiang Xiao had asthma. It was fine when she wasn't having an attack, but during an attack it was severe. This kind of smoke could easily trigger an attack.
Almost as soon as the smoke entered her throat, a suffocating feeling hit her. It felt as if someone was strangling her throat, and no matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
Medicine, medicine...
She picked up her bag, trembling fingers pulling the zipper, fumbling around.
Cheng Yuan grabbed her hand. "Jiang Xiao, don't pretend in front of me."
Too uncomfortable, Jiang Xiao had no strength to speak. She pulled her hand away and continued searching.
As she searched, she coughed. Her face was frighteningly pale, but her lips were alarmingly red. Cold sweat broke out, and at a glance, she looked as if she might die.
Cheng Yuan finally realized something was wrong. He stopped her. "What exactly are you looking for?"
Jiang Xiao: "Medicine. My medicine."
Her vision was blurry, and she couldn't see clearly. She could no longer find the medicine properly.
"Let me do it." Cheng Yuan took the bag, took out the items one by one, and finally found the medicine bottle at the very bottom.
"Is this it?"
"Yes."
Jiang Xiao snatched it, opened the cap, and sprayed it forcefully into her mouth. She wasn't sure how long she sprayed before she could breathe again.
The discomfort was still there. She couldn't move or sit up. She could only beg the man beside her.
"Husband, I feel terrible. Help me."
Cheng Yuan thought she was faking. He said coldly, "Jiang Xiao, you'd better be serious. If I find out you're lying to me, not only you, but your entire Jiang family will pay the price."
"Remember, you fooled me once. I won't let you fool me a second time."
Author's note: